Friday, July 21, 2017

An Irritating Expectant Mother!


This used to be my favorite floral arrangement which I made last fall at a special event organized by my garden club.  The experienced members offered advice so it would be perfect.  It hung on the front porch beside the door so I could enjoy it whenever I passed by.  My plan was to remove the fall colors and replace them with spring colors.  It didn't happen because an irritating expectant mother ruined everything!

The first time I realized something was amiss was when I noticed the silk flowers were askew.  Next, I discovered the bench seat held scattered chunks of moss that had been stolen from the pots of petunias.  Who would steal moss?


It was time to investigate.


On the back of the wreath was a brown house wren's bird nest made from the stolen moss and it held little eggs.  I gently hung it up.


Then our lives changed.  Plans were canceled to remake the arrangement, pressure wash the siding, clean the windows and recover the cushions on the lounge chair.  Everything came to a grinding halt because of the irritating expectant mother!  We learned to open the front door slowly because it would startle her which caused her to fly out of the nest only inches from our head and startle us!  The furniture had to be shifted to the other side of the porch to avoid her droppings.  She is lacking in housekeeping skills. When she began flying back and forth constantly, we knew it was feeding time for the noisy little ones so we had to keep a close eye on Scooter.  

Finally, it was quiet.  She had flown the coop, leaving her dirty apartment behind.  It was a relief to know she had left the neighborhood and I could begin sprucing up my porch.  We waited a while then checked the nest again.  Everyone was gone except for a single bad egg - every family has one.  Before she could return, I razed her home and threw it in the burn pile.  I should not be a snob but instead, welcome all to my neighborhood.  However, she is just too irritating.


As I went to the shed to get the cleaning supplies, I noticed Scooter acting oddly and tracking the area.  He was looking at something in the shed.

It's HER!  She is back!  She has built another nest and this one is in my tool shed!  I will not tolerate this again!  I am knocking her nest down, cleaning up this second mess, and evicting her permanently!


Oh no, too late.  She's done it again!  Sigh.

I suppose we could leave the shed door open for her and move the tools to the garage.  It will only be for a little while.


The story of the babies hatching
Additional mischievous escapades

8 comments:

  1. This bird seems to be very clingy. This expectant mother likes your place. So, - feel honored ! The end of breeding time comes.
    Christel

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    1. I suppose I should feel honored she has chosen me; however, it is hard to do when cleaning up bird droppings!

      I am looking forward to the end of breeding season.

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  2. There's something so endearing about momma birds. They make fools of us. We put up with bird poop, them yelling at us for getting too close to our own property and hours of listening to screeching chicks. It's so worth it to be part of the cycle of life.....

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    1. It is fascinating, if only she would move somewhere I didn't have to clean afterwards.

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  3. I just read your post on Feverfew. Very impressive. I had no idea we could make our own capsules at home. I can think of so many herbs I would like to do this with....thanks for the info. It was wonderful that you could help your brother with his migraines. I've only had a few in my life and can't imagine how horrible it has to be to have them all the time!

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    Replies
    1. When I made the post it was with the hopes it might help someone. I am always looking for better ways to do things. Some things work, some things don't; however, feverfew has made a difference for us.

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  4. Isn't Sweet Pastoral Life overrated at times?? ;)

    And who does the Wren girl think YOU are?

    Take care
    Sophie-Marie

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  5. I put 5-6 of those carry out chopsticks in my hanging baskets to discourage nest building birds, splayed out from the middle.

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